Senior pics are not like what they were when we were kids! Times are changing and so are the ways high school senior portraits look.
Today, Senior Pictures should reflect the senior’s personality and style. It’s all about them! They want their senior photos to be creative, fun and unique! They want to include their pets,
their significant other and/or family members,
and they want their friends or teammates.
They like bright vivid colors,
and crazy, tricked up artwork!
They want to show off their car or motorcycles.
They are dancers or cheerleaders.
They play the drums or guitar.
They play basketball or football,
lacrosse or baseball.
Some want their senior portrait session to make them look like models from a magazine cover.
Some just want to relax and be themselves. It’s all about them!
I don’t limit what they can bring into their senior portraits session (within reason) like some senior photographers. I just ask you to give me fair warning before hand so that I can be prepared.
Most of my senior picture photography sessions are both inside at my studio, and outside, usually at Wildwood. You can expect to spend at least 2 1/1 hours or more counting driving time (for both, one hour if only inside or outside). If you have a different place you would rather go, that can also be arranged.
The senior should bring at least two outfits (plus dress clothes for the yearbook if required), more would be better, especially if it is hot outside (in case the student sweats during their session). Just remember, the more times you have to change clothes, the less time we will have for taking pictures.
Some schools designate a specific photographer for their yearbook pictures. That does NOT mean you have to purchase your photographs from that photographer, nor does it mean that they have to photograph all of your senior portraits. You have to go to them for the Yearbook photo only. It’s up to you (the parent) and your senior student to decide where to go for his/her senior pics. For the schools that do not designate a specific yearbook photographer, the yearbook picture is included in your senior photo package purchase.
When is the best time to have your senior portraits taken? That is a question I get a lot! I actually, as do most senior portrait photographers, start recruiting senior ambassadors after the students go back to school from winter break of their Junior year. This way, all my representatives are ready to go before the end of their Junior year. Most senior pictures are taken in the summer before they start their final year of high school. There are several reasons for this. The biggest reason is that there is so much going on for the students once school starts (sports, homework, jobs, etc.). Plus, there is less time to photograph outside because it starts getting dark earlier, which makes it more difficult to get an appointment with a photographer. Also, yearbook deadlines are usually in October or early November of your senior year (some may be earlier). If you want your student to be included in his/her senior yearbook, you must know when the deadline is and make sure that your photography session is scheduled early enough to be able to purchase your yearbook image in time to make the yearbook deadline. So basically, I photograph high school seniors year round, but the best time is in the summer when there is less going on for the senior student.
Yes, students sometimes change quite a bit in appearance during their senior year. That is why it is not unusual for many parents to get more photos taken of their senior right before graduation. Some students also just get their yearbook picture taken in the fall and never get around to taking their actual senior photos. When spring rolls around and they realize that they need graduation announcement photos (which I do by the way), and they want to get their senior portraits taken.
All of my senior portrait pricing packages can be found on my website.
All images from the senior portrait session will be available for viewing through my website. A few days after the session (as soon as I get them edited and uploaded) you will be given directions on how to view them and the password you will need. They will be available in the online photo gallery for 30 days. After the 30 days have expired and if you have not ordered and need them to be re-posted, there is a $25 fee (my lab charges me this amount) to have them re-posted.
For more information or to schedule your senior portrait photo session, please call Kurt Nielsen Photography at (419) 885-7153.
I got to hang out with Chris Spielman at the Belmont Country Club for the Toledo Hospital Foundation‘s annual fundraiser, The Classic.
I went to the Toledo Botanical Gardens for a tea party.
I went to a couple of weddings.
I went swimming at the UT Rec Center.
I went to a couple of customers houses for family photographs.
I hung out at Wildwood Preserve Metro Park a few times.
There were also a lot of studio shoots, and most of my seniors were both indoor and outdoor for their senior photos.
And, of course, who doesn’t love dogs and babies and kids!
So, yes, I guess I was a little busy this month. Wait till you see how busy I will be next month!
For more information about Kurt Nielsen Photography, please visit my website at: www.kurtnphoto.com or contact me at:
